Pumpkins

Did you know that you can store pumpkins for three to six months – and still make great pies from them? Pumpkins should be cured in a dark, warm and humid space (~85 degrees) for 10 days and then stored in a cool, dry environment (~55 degrees). Stored pumpkins will lose ~20% of their weight when stored – but still make great pies! You can also roast pumpkin seeds and, once they are shelled, use them to make pesto.

Did you know that pumpkin plants are notorious creepers? They can quickly take over a garden if the plant is not trained properly. Pumpkins grow well in an Eco Garden – as long as you control growth and trim back some of the vines.

Did you know that make and female flowers grow on the same pumpkin vine? Male flowers typically appear a week or two before the female flowers and you can identify female flowers by the baby pumpkin bulge between the flower and the vine. Even with flower proximity, pumpkins perform best when nature’s pollinators (mainly bees) do their job well.